(Mtbr member KRob attended Interbike’s Outdoor Demo and rode over a dozen of the hottest mountain bikes on the market for the coming year. These are his unsolicited ride impressions. This was reposted with his permission.)

As always, I like to start these mini reviews/impressions with a disclaimer. We get only 30-60 minutes on any of these bikes and even with the technician at the booth setting up the suspension for our weight and then fiddling with it some out on the trail I know that it would take a day or two of riding (maybe more) to get things really set up so that they are working anywhere close to perfection for our weight and riding style. In some cases bar, stem, seat, and tire selection had an adverse affect on our impression of the bike. Although, this year I think all the tires worked pretty well in the Bootleg conditions.

Some bikes were brand spanking new (We were absolutely the first ones to throw a leg over some) and in other cases they had been thrashed about a bit and the fork and shock seals were starting to be affected by the fine Bootleg talc so as to influence our impression as well. So, please, don’t interpret these views as anything but that. Just a couple of hacks first impressions.

We were disappointed to find that many of our favorite vendors ( Turner, Knolly, Niner, Banshee, Ventana, Titus, and Transition among others) chose not attend the Dirt Demo this year, but even so, we were able to demo around 20 bikes and get to some bike companies that we normally overlook. If you do the math, with 16 hours of demo time, that’s less than 1 hour per bike. Not a lot of time to really get to know a bike, but it is surprising what you can determine in a short ride.

Some general observations:

Reverb! This post was on almost every bike we rode and they all worked flawlessly. It’s amazing how this one item has become almost required equipment of late. No complaints here. I’m addicted to my adjustable seatpost crutch.

Carbon: It’s everwhere. It’s light. It’s stiff. We didn’t even break any this time around….. although I think they had a “Most Wanted Poster” of Russell at the Santa Cruz booth.

2×10: It’s taken over. Almost every bike we rode was running 10 speed cassettes and most had a double chain ring. It works just fine but did take some getting used to which combos provided the right ratios.

Black is the new Black: I was surprised to see so many all black color schemes. Very sharp imo.

Most all the bikes we rode were set up well, adjusted well, and had mid to top level components hanging on their frames. No demo fleet beaters here.

Carbon fiber 5 inch trail bike. “State of the art engineering and technology, along with the vision and design of Jeff Steber, has culminated in the production of our most alluring and inspired mountain bike design to date. “We combined the best of the best” says Steber, “American design with German engineering.” more…

6″ All-Mountain. The Mission Pro was a heavy duty 6″ am bike that felt more at home descending than climbing. It seemed to bob some while pedaling but was very plush and flex-free on the rough Bootleg descents. According to the Diamondback site, “The Knuckle Box is shaped in such a way that the wheel rate starts off linear and finishes slightly progressive. more…

6″ All-Mountain. This is a bike I’ve been interested in since I heard about it at the 2009 Dirt Demo. I got to throw a leg over one at the Over-the-Edge shop in Hurricane last spring and give it a spin around the lot and was super impressed by its light, responsive feel. I was dying to get it out on some rough, chaussey, Bootleg chop to see how it handled chunk in the real world. more…

6″ All-Mountain. The Slayer was one of our favorite AM rigs. Its roomy cockpit and upright seat tube made for comfortable, efficient climbing. It seemed to fit both of us really well. Not sure what the BB height measures but this bike is one of the few that did not suffer any pedal strikes out on the trail, yet it didn’t feel too tall or tippy. more…

6″ All-Mountain. This was one of the bikes I was really looking forward to testing…. but in the end was somewhat underwhelmed. It felt very similar to the Mojo HD but not quite as responsive. It felt fairly plush on descents… but not quite as plush as the HD. It pedaled really well on the climbs…. but not quite as well as the HD. more…

6″ All-Mountain. I hadn’t really been following Trek lately so this one slipped beneath my radar. Luckily someone suggested it to me on one of my “Which bikes should I ride at Interbike” threads. The Trek tent was by far the most organized, high-tech, and efficient booths at the show. You filled out a brief questionaire and waiver on a tablet, then the beautiful and friendly more…

6″ All-Mountain. Russell and I both felt like this was our favorite bike of the show. There’s always one bike that surprises us, and this year, this was it. The G-Spot was plush on the downs, cornered fast and low without striking the pedals, and accelerated on climbs like it was shot out of a shoulder mounted rocket launcher. The frame was stiff and totally free of flex. more…

Trail/AM 29er. It started raining just as we got out of our trucks and started walking over to the demo area Tuesday morning but it was warm and we knew the trails would be fine…. in fact, we knew they would be perfect. Most folks were huddled under pop-ups but we grabbed a couple of bikes and rode through a deserted walkway up to the trails more…

6″ All Mountain. While I was shredding the Tracer on the rain soaked “hero” dirt, Russell was testing the Nomad. I’m surprised they let him take a carbon bike after what he did to their Blur LTc two years ago, but there he was sporting the Nomad C when we met back up. As with most SC bikes the cock pit on this large felt cramped and short which was fine (and fun) more…

Not sure how to classify this bike. It can be set up in several different configurations. As we were rolling back past the Fox booth up near the end of the trails I noticed the Canfield van had pulled in and was unloading some bikes. I stopped and asked if they were demoing bikes and he said that they were. more…

8″ DH/FR. Commencal is one of those companies that I’ve heard about but was never too familiar with. We met one of the US Distributors who also runs the new OTE Sports Shop in Sedona at the I-bike booth. Super nice guys and really interested in getting their bikes better known and more widely distributed in the States. more…

5″ Trail/AM. This was a cool bike. Definitely designed to rule the European type Enduros like Mega Avalanche and longer Super Ds….. yet still pedaled well and had a comfortable middle-of-the-bike seated postion for climbing. It had 150mm of travel and a slackish 67 deg HA and fairly low BB so was a lot of fun to rail through the turns and pop off all the little booters more…

150mm Trail. Swiss bike maker BMC touts this as a Swiss Army knife of bikes but we found it lacking. It was certainly light (probably less than 26lbs) and climbed really well on smooth trails, but the geometry felt too steep and the BB too tall. More long legged trail bike than all-mountain ripper. In fact it felt more like a XC race bike to me after stepping off the Meta AM. more…

6″ All Mountain. We got the next several bikes from the X-Fusion tent because they were available and they had several different bikes we were interested in including this Enduro Pro. I’d already checked out an Anthem from Giant when I rolled up to find Russell getting fitted for a Tomac Vanish at the X-Fusion booth. more…

160mm All Mountain. I was surprised at how different this bike and the Enduro felt. The Enduro felt like a much bigger, longer travel bike. The Vanish felt more like your typical 6″ all-mountain steed. A fairly upright climbing position kept things comfy on the ups and the suspension seemed to keep thing efficient and bob free. more…

5″ Trail/AM 27.5″ wheels. I really got excited about the whole 650B movement two or three years ago when I rode a Carver Ti Killer B on the smoother Lakes Loops trails at I-Bike then a year later rode the 5″ Ventana El Bastardo on the more technical trails here at Bootleg. It seemed to be just the right compromise between rollablility and snappiness. more…

4″ XC/Trail 29er. When we finally got a chance to take “Bonnie” out for a ride we discovered that this was a pretty fun bike for fast, smoother, XC type trails. The big wheels made it easy to keep up your momentum and handled smaller trail irregularities nicely. more…

140mm Trail bike. Russll and I didn’t ride this bike this year, but Randy spent most of day two with this black beauty. He just wouldn’t let it go. Every time we ran into him he was just chugging along on the Blur LT. He said he really liked it compared to his Trek EX 8. In fact he was ready to buy one by time he left. more…

140mm Trail bike. I think Joel Smith has done some nice things with the Tomac line. They looked sharp and the build quality looked to be on par with other Asian manufactured bikes we saw. I rode a Snyper 140 three or four years ago and was really impressed. In fact I remember placing it just behind the TNT 5 Spot for best 5″ trail bike that year. more…

Adjustable 120-130mm Trail bike. This was a beautiful bike and was ridiculously light, fast, and efficient…. but like the BMC, it’s geometry and/or set up let it feeling sketchy on the rough Bootleg descents. I think Russell actually got off and walked it over a few of the slightly tricky sections while cursing under his breath. more…

(new video added! – Steve from Yeti shows us the SB-95 features and highlights.)

Several months ago Yeti introduced the SB-66 bike, which uses their new Switch Technology dual-link suspension design. The trick system uses an eccentric lower pivot, that reverses its direction mid-stroke, to control the chainstay length, and offers a solid platform, good anti-squat capabilities, for optimal and efficient pedaling, with suspension independence throughout its travel. On the heels, or more properly the wheel of the SB-66 is the spanking-new SB-95. The numbering system of the SB series (SuperBike) corresponds to the wheel size and rear travel, so the SB-66 has 26-inch wheels and 6 inches of travel, while the SB-95 has 29 inch wheels and 5 inches of travel.

The aluminum frames use the Smart Technology suspension system, have tapered inset headtubes, Yeti’s Chip System dropouts (allows switching between QR and 12x142mm), direct mount front derailer and internally routed cables on the rear triangle. The SB-66 has a 67 degree head angle and 17.1 inch chainstay, while the SB-95 has 68.5 degree head angle and 17.5 inch chainstay, and frame weights of 7 lbs. and 7.5 lbs., respectively.

They will have a carbon version (they get a C designation) of each bike, which should be available in the early part of next year, dropping around 1 lbs. of weight, and losing the Chip System functionality. The SB-66C frame was on display at the show, and it looked pretty darn sweet, and the sculptured lines and aesthetics were knockouts.

Ride Impressions
I test rode the new Yeti SB-66 and SB-95 at the Outdoor Demo, and got some good-quality time on each of them on Bootleg Canyons rocky terrain. They both climbed like champions, and the Smart Technology suspension, offered a firm and stable platform, excellent resiliency and bump absorbency. They sort of felt like they had Velcro attached to the tires, pulling up immense amounts of traction in loose and hardpacked conditions. The platform and great anti-squat, meant that standing up in the saddle or applying hard brute force pedaling into the system caused no ill effects, and the bike retained rock solid composure. You could flick them in any direction, and they would react with a quick snap, and motor off to their appointed destination. In tighter conditions the SB-66′s shorter wheelbase and smaller wheels, gave it better control and flickability than the SB-95, at a slight loss of the big 29ers rollover capabilities in ledgy terrain. When you got the bikes rolling downhill, they had great control and predictability, and you could waltz through Bootlegs loose gravel and chunky conditions like they’re on rails, with a slight edge going to the big brother SB-95. Neither bike has the deep plushness of Yeti’s ASR-7 or 575, which would be more comfortable in massive rock garden sessions, but they can’t climb like a goat on steroids nor descend with as much suppleness.

Yeti has hit a massive home run with either of these bikes, and the new Smart Technology suspension is pretty amazing, making a superb meld between the Cross-Country and All Trail riding world. The differences between the two models of the SB series are very minor, although I personally liked the SB-95 better the SB-66, and enjoyed the additional benefits of the big wheels, such as a better rollover, carving, cornering and spinning capabilities. The new SB series has excellent composure, resiliency, predictability and suppleness, and either model would be a great asset to own.

Moots Moooto X YBB
Taking what we have learned in refining the YBB soft tail designed mountain bike for over the last 20 years and adding the platform of 29” wheels has created a dream cross country combination. Just over an inch of rear wheel travel in conjunction with those big, fast and easy rolling 29” wheels delivers a ride that many categorize as “magical.” http://moots.com

Salsa El Mariachi
The El Mariachi is a get-it-done-well-everyday mountain bike. Whether you’re putting on the really big boy (or girl) pants and taking on the Tour Divide or a NUE-series 100-miler, or just joining your local crew for an all-day trail riding beatdown, the El Mariachi will keep you coming back for another delicious serving of dirt. http://www.salsacycles.com

]]>http://interbike.mtbr.com/interbike-29er-gallery-highlights/feed0Mountain Cycle’s New 29er – Twentynineandthirteenhttp://interbike.mtbr.com/mountain-cycles-new-29er-twentynineandthirteen
http://interbike.mtbr.com/mountain-cycles-new-29er-twentynineandthirteen#commentsWed, 02 Nov 2011 17:46:30 +0000Gregghttp://interbike.mtbr.com/?p=12352Mountain Cycle is back…well…they actually never left, they’ve been here for years. At the Sea Otter Classic, we covered them in this article: Mountain Cycle – Don’t Call It a Comeback. They showed several new models then including new DH rig and a prototype of a forth coming 29er: http://seaotter.mtbr.com/2011/04/15/mountain-cycle-29er-prototype/

At Interbike this year, the 29er was much closer to production. It is called the “Twentynineandthirteen”. What is the thirteen four? Well, it relates to the element number on the periodical chart for the frame material.

Gerard (General Manager of Mountain Cycle) didn’t want to be on camera so I took a few photos and some notes. Highlights so far include:

]]>http://interbike.mtbr.com/mountain-cycles-new-29er-twentynineandthirteen/feed0Tifosi Optics at Interbike – New 2012 Sunglasseshttp://interbike.mtbr.com/tifosi-optics-at-interbike-new-2012-sunglasses
http://interbike.mtbr.com/tifosi-optics-at-interbike-new-2012-sunglasses#commentsWed, 02 Nov 2011 17:17:40 +0000Gregghttp://interbike.mtbr.com/?p=12337Tifosi is one of the biggest names in cycling eyewear. This is one of the hottest markets right now, as several other cycling gear manufacturers have expanded their product lines to include eyewear. But when you focus on one thing, you have the ability to provide top notch products and something that is evident from their marketing plans, is that top notch doesn’t have to mean top price. Since they are one of the bigger brands, Tifosi Optics doesn’t have to charge as much as other non-cycling specialty “boutique” brands who might be stronger in the “fashion” market but don’t have as big a share in the cycling world.

After personally taking a closer look at their products, the quality, style and features of Tifosi Optics can be placed up against much more expensive brands and hold their own.

]]>http://interbike.mtbr.com/tifosi-optics-at-interbike-new-2012-sunglasses/feed0Purely Custom at Interbikehttp://interbike.mtbr.com/purely-custom-at-interbike
http://interbike.mtbr.com/purely-custom-at-interbike#commentsThu, 20 Oct 2011 00:31:46 +0000Gregghttp://interbike.mtbr.com/?p=12314Purely Custom is a company that we first learned about at the Sea Otter Classic this year ( http://seaotter.mtbr.com/2011/04/20/purely-custom-soft-touch-bashguard/ ). They were highlighting a product called the Soft Touch Bashguard.

While at Interbike, I got to meet Purely Custom main man himself, Tyler Mortensen. We were stoked to hear the awesome feedback Tyler gave, in regards to the number of people that came up to his booth at Interbike (located, very conveniently next to the food concession stand) and said that they had read about his innovative bashguard on Mtbr!

But Purely Custom does a lot more than just make a bashguard. Shown here are a variety of their offerings, including topcaps, valve covers, hub spacers, headset spacers, bottle cages, chainring bolts to even items like anodized hangers, license plate frames, awards and more!

]]>http://interbike.mtbr.com/purely-custom-at-interbike/feed0Kali Protectives at Interbikehttp://interbike.mtbr.com/kali-protectives-at-interbike-2
http://interbike.mtbr.com/kali-protectives-at-interbike-2#commentsWed, 19 Oct 2011 18:07:05 +0000Gregghttp://interbike.mtbr.com/?p=12304Kali Protectives makes helmets and protective gear for mountain bikers, both gravity oriented and XC style. They are located in Morgan Hill, CA, not too far from Mtbr HQ. Their passion for all things two wheeled also include safety gear for motocross riders as well as street/sport bike riders.

I met with founders Mike Wilson and Brad Waldron during Happy Hour in their booth. Needless to say, their booth was packed!

The new hotness being shown was the Avatar 2 carbon fiber full face helmet. Offering great protection, this lid weighs in at a scant 770 grams! It also features their Composite Fusion technology: “Utilizing patented COMPOSITE FUSION™ PLUS in-molding technology for a perfect shell/liner connection, this full-face helmet also features a revolutionary mix of fiberglass in its shell materials. These materials form perfectly into a skeleton of expanded protection allowing the overall use of softer EPS foam. What’s it all mean? Light Strong.”
more: http://www.kaliprotectives.com/bike/fusion-tech/

Here are a few more photos of their offerings. They are a growing company and their products are definitely worth checking out!

Another Interbike show wrapped up a couple of weeks ago, and it was entertaining and tiring, and was fun to catch up with old friends and meet a few new ones, and see all the new products coming out for the following year. The weather was cooler than normal, and we even had a good rainstorm on day 2 of the outdoor portion. Indoors was the usual monstrous mess of booths, and the craziness was increased with the addition of a lower floor of vendors, some of which were part of the health and fitness show. I compiled together a Top 5 lists of products that I found interesting and innovative from this years show:

SRAM’s Lower 2×10 Gearing
SRAM upped the ante this year for their 2×10 drivetrain, and is offering a lower front gearing. The current 42×28 and 39×26 ratios, is being joined by a 38×24 and a uber low 36×22. The new lower gearing should have a great place on a 29er, where the larger wheels can make use of the smaller gear ratio, and for micro gear aficionados.Visit SRAM 2×10 website

Slipnot Bike Chains
Winter time is just around the corner, and what better product than a set of bike chains to aid in riding endeavors in snow, ice and mud. They are carefully thought out, and are easy to take on and off for variable weather patterns, and should provide increased traction when dealing with inclement conditions.Visit Slipnot website

Urge all M Helmet
The helmet is an interesting blend of cross country, bmx and full faced designs, and Urge is adding some very innovative and safety-related ideas to the protection market. It provides excellent rear and side coverage, and internal reinforcements, which work in a synergistic manner for maximum protection.Visit Urge all M website

Magura MT Brake Series
The Magura MT brakes were in development for 2 years, and they are a highly engineered marvel, which are powerful, with good modulation and an incredible feel in the lever. The top of the line MT8 is lightweight, and has full carbon levers and reservoir. All the technology has bled down to all the models, some of which have an affordable price point.Visit Magura 2012 brakes website

Ibis Ripley 29er
Ibis announced the full suspension 29er Ripley, which has been in development for 3 years. The big bad beast is going to use twin-eccentrics (2Xentrics) for the links, and will have 120mm of suspension, with an option for a 140mm fork. Ibis and Dave Weagle did some wild innovations on the Ripley.Visit Ibis Ripley 29er website

]]>http://interbike.mtbr.com/pastajets-interbike-2011-top-five/feed0Yeti Cycles 303 World Cup DH Framehttp://interbike.mtbr.com/yeti-cycles-303-world-cup-dh-frame
http://interbike.mtbr.com/yeti-cycles-303-world-cup-dh-frame#commentsThu, 06 Oct 2011 19:29:44 +0000thienhttp://interbike.mtbr.com/?p=12180Steve Hoogendoorn is back to show us the Yeti 303 downhill frame at the Dirt Demo in Las Vegas.